Discography


A.A.V.V. Gonçalves, Albini, Donelli: Miniaturas Contemporâneas Para Braguinhas
Cat. C01149 – (P) & (C) 2026 Da Vinci Classics – EAN Code: 746160919911

The braguinha, also historically known as the machete (or machetinho) of Madeira, is a small plucked chordophone that came into use in Portugal in the 18th century. As Madeiran musician, journalist, folklorist and braguinha performer Carlos Maria Santos poetically observed in 1937, the braguinha “is, even nowadays, in certain homes, an evocation, indelible nostalgia, the remnants of a dream…”. In this album we have brought together a collection of recent and newly composed works written exclusively for the braguinha, with the aim of highlighting both the contemporary expressions of its rich heritage and the instrument’s modern expressive possibilities. For this reason, we chose to draw on an original repertoire by living composers from Madeira (Caldeira, Esteireiro, Gonçalves, and Órfão), while also commissioning new works from composers who were approaching the instrument for the very first time (De Iturbe, Ferraresi, Fiammetti, Leung, Nastari, Taccani, and Tramontano). Each was invited to explore the braguinha through the lens of their own aesthetics and compositional language. At the same time, we allowed for the occasional use of the guitar, since the tradition of music for the braguinha has often included it as an accompanying instrument. The project deliberately focuses on extremely short pieces—miniatures, concise and striking—in order to convey, in concentrated form, the widest possible variety of expressions. Finally, it is worth underlining the choice to use, for this album, exclusively braguinhas crafted on the island of Madeira by contemporary luthiers continuing the tradition, as well as an Italian guitar which, although classical, was undoubtedly built with a parlor use in mind. (Giovanni Albini).
Da Vinci ★ Spotify
● Track 01. Giovanni Albini, Ricercare Op. 81 [3’04];
● Track 02. Pedro Gonçalves, Bailinho [3’15];
● Track 03. Alessandro De Iturbe, Chiara Ferraresi, 2×2 [2’58];
● Track 04. Fabian Leung, Postlude to a Firefly [1’06];
● Track 05. Graciano Caldeira, Levada da Serra [2’06];
● Track 06. Paulo Esteireiro, Santo Expedito [3’13];
● Track 07. Paulo Esteireiro, Paisagens Marítimas [3’13];
● Track 08. Paulo Esteireiro, Manhã Espirituosa [2’35];
● Track 09. Fabrizio Nastari, Ludus [4’22];
● Track 10. Fabrizio Nastari, Trafiletto [5’23];
● Track 11. Giorgio Colombo Taccani, Ar De Presença [2’19];
● Track 12. Davide Tramontano, Ph.B – Petite Hommage à la Braguinha [2’10];
● Track 13. Emanuele Fiammetti, Il Viola dei Selciati [5’08];
● Track 14. Guilherme Órfão, P8 [3’28].

A.A.V.V. Giovanni Albini: A Contemporary Ukulele
Cat. C00506 – (P) & (C) 2022 Da Vinci Classics – EAN Code: 746160911472

Today, a contemporary music album is by no means a novelty, but it becomes as such when an entirely brand new repertoire is brought into existence for an instrument that never had such a repertoire, as the ukulele. The ukulele is probably one of the most outstandingly multi-faceted instruments in today’s music. It not only possesses a complex historical identity, but it is also used across many of today’s musical genres, undergoing an extremely wide popularity in the many forms of music fruition, consumption, and even entertainment. Yet, the ukulele is still lacking a stable place in contemporary art music – however slippery and fragile this label may sound. As the history of the classical guitar teaches us, it is only thanks to the creative drive of certain performers that an instrument’s journey into a new genre can eventually take off. (Giovanni Cestino).
Da VinciSpotifyApple Music
● Track 01. Fabrizio Nastari, Dies Rainbow [3’16];
● Track 02. Alberto Barberis, Preludio Variato [5’48];
● Track 03. Davide Tammaro, The Messenger [3’36];
● Track 04. Sydney Doemel, Green [3’47];
● Track 05. Andrea Beggio, Obscure Particles [3’44];
● Track 06. Matthew Quilliam, The Department for the End of the World [1’51];
● Track 07. Samantha Muir, Blinter [2’59];
● Track 08. Philip Ellis Foster, Cosmos I [4’53];
● Track 09. Zulfiia Tursunova, Intention Sector 3012 [6’50];
● Track 10. Brandon Rolle, Afterward [4’50];
● Track 11. Frederick Rawski, Milan Misremembered [2’54];
● Track 12. Toivo Tulev, Synchronistic Afternoon With a Freshly Tuned Ukulele [5’03];
● Track 13. Choan Gálvez, The Cheerless Walk [3’54];
● Track 14. Oliver Dubon, Reality’s Edge [5’49].

Giovanni Albini: String Quartets
Cat. 95717 – (P) & (C) 2019 Brilliant Classics – EAN Code: 5028421957173

Giovanni Albini: Musica Sacra
Cat. 95072 – (P) & (C) 2013 Brilliant Classics – EAN Code: 5028421950723

Giovanni Albini: Musica Ciclica
Cat. 9294 – (P) & (C) 2012 Brilliant Classics – EAN Code: 5029365929424

Giovanni Albini: Uppuv Aeg
(P) & (C) 2023 Giovanni Albini

Giovanni Albini: Colore Italiano
Cat. ALB121 – (P) & (C) 2010 Ediemme Records & Editions


►► Foster: The Cosmos Project
(P) & (C) 2024 Philip Ellis Foster, K7 Commissions no. 20, Infrequent Seams, IS-2020

►► Rawski: Misremembrances
(P) & (C) 2022 Frederick Rawski

►► A.A.V.V. Cosimo Carovani: Ad Antiqua, Music for Cello Solo
Cat. C00277 – (P) & (C) 2020 Da Vinci Classics – EAN Code: 746160911069

►► A.A.V.V. Kalisz Philharmonic Orchestra under Pawel Kotla: Calisia 1 – New Music for Strings
Cat. Phasma-Music 035 – (P) & (C) 2021 Phasma-Music (Naxos) – UPC: 660989085896

►► A.A.V.V. Mater Alma: New Music on “Ave Maris Stella”
Cat. C00432 – (P) & (C) 2021 Da Vinci Classics – EAN Code: 746160912738

►► A.A.V.V. Iwona Linka, Trio Arundos: Four Minutes for Woodwind Quartet
Cat. Phasma-Music 012 – (P) & (C) 2019 Phasma-Music (Naxos) – UPC: 660989085667

►► A.A.V.V. Il Giardino delle Muse: Fantasia sopra La Sol Fa Re Mi
Cat. 2FLT – (P) & (C) 2018 Accademia Musicale Studio Musica Production

►► A.A.V.V. Anthology of Classical Guitar Music
Cat. 95480 – (P) & (C) 2017 Brilliant Classics – EAN Code: 5028421954806

►► Luciano Berio, Ivan Fedele, Giovanni Albini: Finito Illimitato
DVD Cat. STR 33854 – (P) & (C) 2014 Stradivarius – EAN Code: 8011570338549

►► A.A.V.V. Giorgio Mirto: Nocturnes for Guitar
Cat. 9258 – (P) & (C) 2012 Brilliant Classics – EAN Code: 5029365925822

►► A.A.V.V. Omar Fassa: Aftermath
Cat. HSC012 – (P) & (C) 2012 highSCORE New Music Center – UPC: 887158174698

►► A.A.V.V. JuniOrchestra e Coro Voci Bianche dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia: Concerto di Natale
(P) & (C) 2012 Camera dei Deputati, Roma

►► A.A.V.V. Flavio Virzì, Quartetto Indaco: Quintets
Cat. HSC/10 – (P) & (C) 2011 highSCORE New Music Center – UPC: 881034957450

►► Matteo Cecarini, Giovanni Albini: Amigdala
(P) & (C) 2011 SoDe Records

►► A.A.V.V. Emporio Armani Caffé Vol. 5
Cat. SODE101 – (P) & (C) 2010 Intai /Ediemme Records / SoDe – EAN Code: 8033954450029